THE OBSESSED Announces First New Album In 20+ Years, SacredBy
Larry Petro,
News Monkey
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 @ 5:37 PM

Out April 7th; Track "Razor Wire" Streaming

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Maryland doom legends THE OBSESSED will unleash Sacred, the band's first studio album in over twenty years, this April via Relapse Records.

Stream the band's new song "Razor Wire" below.

Guitarist Scott "Wino" Weinrich comments on the new album: "I can honestly say, I think this is the best sounding recording of my career, and I am excited to release it on Relapse. This song "Razor Wire", I have been carrying around the title concept and main riff in my pocket for a couple years. The full song was born after applying real life experiences, with a little wishful thinking! Fuck control."

April 7th, 2017 will see the worldwide release of Sacred via Relapse Records on CD, LP, deluxe double LP, and digital formats. Physical preorders and bundles are available via Relapse.com HERE and digital downloads can be preordered by Bandcamp at THIS LOCATION. The deluxe 2xLP bundle includes an enamel logo pin, signed art print, and two bonus tracks.

With renewed energy and purpose,

THE OBSESSED sounds heavier and more relevant than ever before. On Sacred, the band doubles down on enormous, heaving riffs and pummeling low-end across twelve tracks of eternal doom. Rounded out by Wino's lyrical honesty and iconic throaty vocals, Sacred is an album that further pushes THE OBSESSED into the annals of heavy metal history, well worth the two-plus decade wait. The band will perform once again as a three-piece featuring Wino, Reid Raley, and Brian Costantino.

Sacred Track Listing:

"Sodden Jackal"

"Punk Crusher"

"Sacred"

"Haywire"

"Perseverance Of Futility"

"It's Only Money"

"Cold Blood"

"Stranger Things"

"Razor Wire"

"My Daughter My Son"

"Be The Night"

"Interlude"

"On So Long" (Bonus)

"Crossroader Blues" (Bonus)

Additionally, THE OBSESSED will perform at this year's Berserker Fest IV in Detroit, Michigan the weekend of April 14th-15th. Stay tuned for further tour announcements in the future.

THE OBSESSED was formed in the late 1970s in Potomac, Maryland by legendary guitarist Scott "Wino" Weinrich (SAINT VITUS, SPIRIT CARAVAN). The band spawned in the realm of musicians/artists such as BLACK SABBATH, FRANK ZAPPA, THE DICTATORS, and THE STOOGES. The earliest lineup consisted of Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese, and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983, Wino took over vocal duties and the band became a three-piece to record the Sodden Jackal EP.

The band broke up in the late '80s after Wino moved to California to join SAINT VITUS. At that time, a German label, Hellhound Records, and the booking agency that had signed SAINT VITUS, released The Obsessed, originally recorded in 1985, prompting Wino to reform THE OBSESSED. After multiple lineup changes, the band signed to Columbia Records in 1994 to release their third and final album, The Church Within. Despite highly acclaimed reviews, THE OBSESSED would break up following the release, seeing Wino forming SPIRIT CARAVAN (Then SHINE) and other projects.

In September 2011, THE OBSESSED returned to the stage at Roadburn Festival with The Church Within legendary lineup (featuring Wino, Greg Rogers, and Guy Pinhas). The band played a few more reunion shows over the next couple years at Hellfest Open Air 2012 and Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley.

Wino announced the full-time return of THE OBSESSED in March 2016 and the band's official signing to Relapse Records to record the follow up to The Church Within. The new lineup originally consisted of SPIRIT CARAVAN bassist Dave Sherman and Wino's longtime friend and former road crew member, drummer Brian Costantino. On October 31st, 2016, Wino announced the lineup for THE OBSESSED, included bassist Bruce Falkinburg and guitarist Seraphim, making that the first time the band had been a four piece in over thirty-five years. Now in 2017, THE OBSESSED will unleash Sacred, the band's first studio album in over two decades.